England fans have criticised the footballing authorities after Saturday nightâs game against Spain was shown exclusively on pay-per-view television, excluding millions of supporters from watching.

The game ended in a 2-1 loss for England after an early Marcus Rashford goal was cancelled out by strikes from Saul Niguez and Rodrigo.

Aired on Sky Sports, who won the bidding rights in 2016 for al l of the national teamâs games in new tournament Uefa Nations League, many fans were angered at being priced out of watching the first international match since Gareth Southgateâs sideâs dizzying World Cup run over the summer.

England made it to their first semi-final of a major tournament since 1990, surpassing TV viewing figures records and filling up beer gardens across the nation. More than 26 million people â" 40 per cent of the population â" tuned in to watch Englandâs eventual loss to Croatia. Some expected fans to continue their passionate support into the new season â" but those without Sky Sports were unable to watch on Saturday night.

Harry Dempster, an England fan posting on Twitter, said: âNot sure how I feel about England being on Sky. Surely keeping it on BBC where all can view would be better? Passion over paycheck. Just as my passion for England was reunited Iâll now miss it as I donât have Sky. Supporting our team shouldnât be about finances.â

England vs Spain - player ratings

22 show all England vs Spain - player ratings

1/22 Jordan Pickford - 6 out of 10

Could do little about the two goals scored in the first half and wasnât required to do much more after that. AFP/Getty Images

2/22 Joe Gomez - 5

Looked a little troubled to begin with but came into his own. AFP/Getty Images

3/22 John Stones - 6

Made a great tackle in the second half to stop Rodrigo breaking free but got booked for it, otherwise did a decent job in the centre of the defence. REUTERS

4/22 Harry Maguire - 6

Controlled at the back in possession even under pressure from the Spanish strikers. Getty Images

5/22 Jordan Henderson - 5

Got sucked away from the near post for Spainâs second goal which allowed Rodrigo to find the gap and score. REUTERS

6/22 Kieran Trippier - 6

Brought down Alonso in a needless diving challenge which led to the second Spanish goal, went forward well but didnât deliver as well as weâd have l iked. AFP/Getty Images

7/22 Jesse Lingard - 6

Lit the game up for England when he combined with Alli on the attack but saw too little of the ball and had to cover too much when defending. Getty Images

8/22 Dele Alli - 6

Couldnât make a lasting impact due to England struggling to get the ball forward. REUTERS

9/22 Luke Shaw - 7

Had a great start to the game, setting up Rashford for the opener but gave Carvajal too much room in defence leading to the equaliser for Spain, he recovered after this mishap and performed well. PA

10/22 Marcus Rashford - 8

Scored the opener and could have had a second with a fiercer header in the first half. REUTERS

11/22 Harry Kane - 6

Sent Rashford through on goal in the second half and he held the ball up and turned well but he didnât see enough of it to make a proper impact. Spain AP

12/22 David De Gea - 7 out of 10

Made a fantastic save to deny Rashford equalising and keep Spain in front. REUTERS

13/22 Dani Carvajal - 8

Was great all night, he put pressure on Shaw and Maguire down the left and tracked back superbly. AFP/Getty Images

14/22 Nacho Fernandez - 6

Steadfast in defence following Englandâs first, barely gave England a chance. Getty Images

15/22 Sergio Ramos - 6

Got booed by the English fans but delivered qua lity long balls and looked confident in defence. AP

16/22 Marcos Alonso - 6

Was strong in mid-field and won a few free kicks for Spain in dangerous areas including the one which led to their second goal. Getty Images

17/22 Thiago Alcantara - 7

Whipped in the low cross from out wide, finding Rodrigo with perfection. EPA

18/22 Sergio Busquets - 7

Did what he does, commanded the mid-field playing through he wide men and cr eating space with ease. REUTERS

19/22 Saul Niguez - 8

Scored the equaliser for Spain with a solid shot in a tricky situation, perfectly placing the ball past Pickford. AP

20/22 Rodrigo Moreno - 9

Played a perfect pass into Saul to get the equaliser for Spain before putting them in front after meeting Thiagoâs free kick. The best player on the pitch. AP

21/22 Iago Aspas - 6

Linked very well with Rodrigo up front and was nât afraid to take the challenge to England and shoot from anywhere on the pitch. REUTERS

22/22 Isco - 6

Had free roam on the pitch and made use of it, he ran through the centre, down the left, over on the right basically he was everywhere a nightmare to defend against. AFP/Getty Images

1/22 Jordan Pickford - 6 out of 10

Could do little about the two goals scored in the first half and wasnât required to do much more after that. AFP/Getty Images

2/22 Joe Gomez - 5

Looked a little troubled to begin with but came into his own. AFP/Getty Images

3/22 John Stones - 6

Made a great tackle in the second half to stop Rodrigo breaking free but got booked for it, otherwise did a decent job in the centre of the defence. REUTERS

4/22 Harry Maguire - 6

Controlled at the back in possession even under pressure from the Spanish strikers. Getty Images

5/22 Jordan Henderson - 5

Got sucked away from the near post for Spainâs second goal which allowed Rodrigo to find the gap and score. REUTERS

6/22 Kieran Trippier - 6

Brought down Alonso in a needless diving challenge which led to the second Spanish goal, went forward well but didnât deliver as well as weâd have liked. AFP/Getty Images

7/22 Jesse Lingard - 6

Lit the game up for England when he combined with Alli on the attack but saw too little of the ball and had to cover too much when defending. Getty Images

8/22 Dele Alli - 6

Couldnât make a lasting impact due to England struggling to get the ball forward. REUTERS

9/22 Luke Shaw - 7

Had a great start to the game, setting up Rashford for the opener but gave Carvajal too much room in defence leading to the equaliser for Spain, he recovered after this mishap and performed well. PA

10/22 Marcus Rashford - 8

Scored the opener and could have had a second with a fiercer header in the first half. REUTERS

11/22 Harry Kane - 6

Sent Rashford through on goal in the second half and he held the ball up and turned well but he didnât see enough of it to make a proper impact. Spain AP

12/22 David De Gea - 7 out of 10

Made a fantastic save to deny Rashford equalising and keep Spain in front. REUTERS

13/22 Dani Carvajal - 8

Was great all night, he put pressure on Shaw and Maguire down the left and tracked back superbly. AFP/Getty Im ages

14/22 Nacho Fernandez - 6

Steadfast in defence following Englandâs first, barely gave England a chance. Getty Images

15/22 Sergio Ramos - 6

Got booed by the English fans but delivered quality long balls and looked confident in defence. AP

16/22 Marcos Alonso - 6

Was strong in mid-field and won a few free kicks for Spain in dangerous areas including the one which led to their second goal. Getty Images

17/22 Thiago Alcantara - 7

Whipped in the low cross from out wide, finding Rodrigo with perfection. EPA

18/22 Sergio Busquets - 7

Did what he does, commanded the mid-field playing through he wide men and creating space with ease. REUTERS

19/22 Saul Niguez - 8

Scored the equaliser for Spain with a solid shot in a tricky situation, perfectly placing the ball past Pickford. AP

20/22 Rodrigo Moreno - 9

Played a perfect pass into Saul to get the equaliser for Spain before putting them in front after meeting Thiagoâs free kick. The best player on the pitch. AP

21/22 Iago Aspas - 6

Linked very well with Rodrigo up front and wasnât afraid to take the challenge to England and shoot from anywhere on the pitch. REUTERS

22/22 Isco - 6

Had free roam on the pitch and made use of it, he ran through the centre, down the left, over on the right basically he was everywhere a nightmare to defend against. AFP/Getty Images

Another fan voicing his concern about the move, Ashley James Moore, said: âItâs a joke how England are on Sky tonight. Youâd think after an amazing World Cup theyâd want everyone to be able to watch the first match! #MoneyTalksâ

A post on the social media site from a user named Adam warned: âThe England football team should never be on pay-to-view such as Sky or BT Sport. The majority of fans (especially young fans) will start to become more detached from the national side as a result.â

The brainchild of disgraced ex-Uefa president Michel Platini, the Uefa Nations League is an attempt to improve the competitiveness of international football in between major tournaments. Many fans and players however â" at least for now â" view the tournament as nothing more than a set of glorified friendlies preparing the teams for the pinnacles of the sport: the European Championships and the World Cup.

These tournaments, as well as Englandâs qualifying games, are set to remain on terrestrial, with ITV winning broadcasting rights to the qualifiers which will start in March 2019.

The FA told The Independent: âUnder UEFAâs new centralised media rights agreement for the 2018-22 period England games will be shown on Sky Sports (Nations League + friendlies) and ITV (qualifiers + pre-tournament friendlies) for the four years.

âWe are looking forward to working with Sky Sports. As has been proven by their coverage of competitions such as the Premier League, we are confident that Sky Sports will continue to offer an outstanding viewing experience.

âEuro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup will continue to be shown on BBC and ITV.â